Taylor Township

Taylor Township

HE first old settlers in this neighborhood were old Daniel Wallace, George Anderson, Robert Anderson, Abel Westfall, Thomas Barker, and his son, Obcdiah T. Barker, John Summerville, James, Nathaniel, William and Henry Cochran.

Over in the north end of the toAvnship, were the families of Colonel Fellows, old man Lewis, Joel Benham, James Cox, William Cox, John Ruth, Cornelius Bogard and Silas Fellows.

Old Uncle David Wallace built the first log cabin on the farm where John Summerville now lives, about a half mile south of Scotland. David Wallace and the two Anderson brothers came direct to Greene county from Edinburg, Scotland, and made the first entry of land in this settlement.

Joel Benham uas born in Lee county, Tirginia, and married Miss Rebecca Hicks. They came to Knox county, Indiana, in the year 1-814, find to Greene county about fifty-five years ago. Mr. Benham- and had thirteen children - eight boys and five girls. The old man died about seven years a^o, and was buried at the Simpson Chapel.

Isaac Benham, the youngest child, -was born in Tavlor township, on the 22d dav of August, 1823. He married Miss Emily Lester, daughter of Peter R. Lester. Isaac was married the first time at the age of seventeen years. His last wife was Amanda Clark, and they now live on the old Joe Benham farm.

The first school was taught by Mr. 0. T. Barker, in a little log cabin that David Wallace first built. - Among the pupils were William Miller, Julia Ann Miller, Ewell Barker, Charles Cochran and about twentyfive others.

John A. Stone came from Surry county, North Carolina, forty-six years ago. He married Elizabeth Bravens, daughter of Jesse Bravens. Jesse Bravens was the father of twenty-one children, Mrs. Stone has lived to see her father, mother and all of her brothers and sisters buried. Mr. and Mrs. Stone, having had no children of their own, have adopted and raised several orphan children. They are noted for their great kindness to the orphans which have been entrusted to their care and hospitality.

first-class stone-mason. He had tho best orchard and the nicest farm in all that country. He was a true Christian and a faithful Worker in the good cause of education.

Uncle Davey Ledgerwood settled in Daviess county, six miles north of the old Paddy Garden. This Gar^ den was a iioted old pigeon roost, and was located about where Samuel Taylor now lives.

"We have two old bear stories which are both true. They are among the noted doings and acts of the old Richey family. At an early day in this settlement, a very large old bear came up near Mr. Richey's house and caught a big hog. The men were not at home at the time ; bufc the girls were, and one of them gath^ ered up a Avooden hand-spike and went to relieve the hog. When she came upon the bear he did not let the hog loose out of his paws, so the girl struck the old bruin over the back in such a way as to break it, thus killing him.

At another time, John Miller and Pleasant Richey, were hunting in the edge of Daviess county, and found a big bear up a tree trjing to eat off a bee-hive limb. He . would gnaw at the place awhile, and then walk Gut upon the limb and swing it up and down and try to break it off. He then came back and chawed at the place where the bees were, whilst tho bees filled his eyes and wool. But he finally went out several feet from the tree, and his weight broke the limb off, and down tumbled the bees, bear, hive and all in a heap. The boys then shot two rifle bullets into the bear and killed him.

stock ahead and mixed' in. Whilst the Indians were among the stock, Mr. Westfall, who was on picket, espied them, and gave the alarm by firing his gun among them.

Cloborne C. Paris, a common farmer, aged sixty-six years, was born near Corydon, Harrison county, Indiana. He came to Greene county some thirty years ago. Mr. Paris and wife have seven ebildren.

William Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1793. He served in the British army for about three years, under Prince Regent George IV, and was married in Scotland, to Christiana Cullen, and their union was blessed with four children - three boys and one girl. They came to Greene county about twenty years ago, where the old lady died. Mr. Ferguson is about eighty-three years of age. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church and Sabbath school. He is in good health, and walks to Scotland for his mails !

Old Mother Ingles, mother of Rev. James Ingles, is now about eighty years old. She lives in Scotland with her children. She has buried five children. - all were men and women. One preacher, one lawyer and one fiirmer, are yet living.

John Summerville is a common farmer, to the south of Scotland, aged fifty-five years. He Avas born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and came, with his mother, to Greene county. He married Miranda Brooks, daughter of Asa Brooks. They have had seven children^-two boys and five girls.

James Ferguson, Esq., is a common farmer, and lives on the Owensburg road, two and a-half miles from Scotland. Mr. Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came across the big salt-water fish-pond to America, over fifty years ago, and settled in the State of ^ew York. He then moved to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Margaret Baker, and then came to Greene county. This was about twenty-five years ago. They have ten children

' - five boys and five girls. Old Grandmother Nancy Riley is the oldest woman in Greene county. She is ninety-&even years old, and does up her housework, and can milk her cows better and quicker than many of our girls of the present day.

Joel Wilson built a water-mill on Doan's creek, just below Scotland, and afterwards the mill changed owners several times, and finally went to waste. Lower down on the creek, old John Ritter built a mill -many years ago, and it, too, has long since gone down.

Names Of Tub Creeks

The Alum Cave was named by the early settlers, who went there and got the dust - and it was pure alum. This cave is a very noted place, on the old Wallace farm,near John Summervillo's, just south ot Scotland.

Snake Hollow was named by old Jimmy, the well-digger. Mr. Webb, the old Englishman who came over the ocean to look for Katydids, found a rattlesnake in that hollow, after it had bitten his finger.